SAWS cuts Burleson County water deal
Wednesday, September 24, 2014 by Elizabeth Pagano
On Monday, San Antonio Water System officials revealed a draft contract to buy up to 16.3 billion gallons (or 50,000 acre-feet) of water annually for 30 years. The water will be piped from Carrizo and Simsboro Aquifers in Burleson County — leased from about 3,400 property owners and brokered by the Vista Ridge Consortium — beginning as early as 2019. If approved, it would be the largest water deal in San Antonio’s history, providing enough water to supply 162,000 households. A news release from the water authority stressed that it would also protect the water supply of the Edwards Aquifer. SAWS estimates that the average residential water bill will increase about $12 per month because of the deal. WOAI News reports that the water will cost about $2,247 per acre-foot, including infrastructure costs. If approved, the deal could serve as a benchmark for similar contracts in the region. The SAWS board of trustees is scheduled to vote on the contract Sept. 29.
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